Mural Hill

HIKE TO MURAL HILL

Join the Muleteam this Saturday to hike from Old Bisbee to the edge of the high flat-top mountain best seem from the traffic circle. This trail of desert path and unused dirt road is a mostly uphill walk, thorny in places (shorts not recommended) with a short, steep scramble to the top. It's about 7 miles total with wonderful views, especially from the crest. Bring water and lunch. Back mid-afternoon. Dogs welcome. Meet Jan. 2 at 9 a.m. by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain to start the hike. Free. For more details contact Alice at klarkea@gmail.com or 818-636-7389 (texting okay).

HIkers are asked to wear masks, with the exception of those who have difficulty with physical exertion while masked. The latter are asked to maintain a six-foot distance from other hikers.

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BACKTRACK - Bisbee Cross

Under perfect weather, a small group of seven, ranging from old-timers to three first-timers, had a wonderful day hiking to the Cross. When we got down, a couple of us went straight downtown while the rest of us took City Trail and High Road to High Desert Café for a relaxing lunch. It's always a pleasure to introduce new people to the great views and history of Old Bisbee. - Doug 

More photos at muleteam.shutterfly.com

CALENDAR 

Jan 9 - Wood Canyon to Ridge Trail with Sue

Jan 16 - Mt Ballard with Sandy

Jan 23 - ?

......

Keep on trekking,

Elizabeth

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Bisbee Cross

HIKE TO THE BISBEE CROSS

Join the Muleteam this Saturday for a short hike to the cross above Old Bisbee. This is a local hike and mostly easy (except the short ascent to the Cross) with the very best views of Bisbee. Meet Dec. 26 at 9 a.m. by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain to begin the hike. Bring water, we'll be back by midday for lunch. Free. For more information contact Doug at 520-432-0307 or reiniger@wyoming.com. 

Hikers are asked to wear masks, with the exception of those who have difficulty with physical exertion while masked. The latter are asked to be sure to maintain a six-foot distance from other hikers.

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BACKTRACK -  Perimeter

Fourteen+ hikers and 4 hiker dogs trekked the Perimeter Trail (a/k/a The Jazzy Memorial Hike) on a beautiful day – no wind and lots of blue sky. There were many levels of pace so we naturally kept our distance from each other. It was rockier and longer than some of us remembered but a good seven mile work-out. Everyone wore a mask which protected all of us. - Anne

SIDETRACK - Masks while hiking

A couple of comments from Muleteamers, including an alternative proposal, have been published to my previous post. I have also received comments by email as well as on the trail this past Saturday. Thank you to all who have offered their opinions. As the majority of those I have heard from have been in support of my suggestions, I am proceeding on that basis. For more details and discussion see the previous post, where the opportunity to comment remains open. - Elizabeth

CALENDAR - need to schedule hikes after January 2 . . . 

Jan 2  -   Mural Hill with Alice

Jan 9  -   ?

Jan 16  -  ?

......

Keep on trekking,

Elizabeth

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Hiking in the Time of Coronavirus

 As it is time to add some hikes to our calendar, I would like to offer some thoughts.

The pandemic has required us Muleteamers to adapt in various ways. Because many of us are not comfortable carpooling with people outside our households, hikes with long drives (for example 90 minutes or so to the Chiricahuas) are not as attractive as they once were. In addition, the fact that we arrive at a destination with a greater number of cars also tends to eliminate trailheads with limited parking.

For those reasons it may turn out to be necessary to repeat hikes this season more than we have in previous years.

I have also become increasingly aware that some Muleteamers are not comfortable on hikes with others who are not masked. From the beginning of the season, the only mask requirement that I personally have referenced has been the City of Bisbee policy, which applies at the Courthouse but not out on many of our trails. My own reasons for not communicating a need for masks on the trail included (1) I am aware that certain individuals may have difficulty with physical exertion while masked, and (2) since I am not a policy-maker for Muleteam, I hesitated to go beyond applicable government requirements.

I am however the one with my fingers on the keyboard. During the pandemic, approaches to safety have in many ways evolved. Last spring we were hiking distanced but not masked. This season we have had hikes where everyone is masked and others with a substantial number of unmasked hikers. Meanwhile, even since the beginning of our season in October, public health guidance has become clearer. Last month the director of the Arizona Department of Health Services said "Based on recently released data, we now know masks provide more protection than previously thought. . . . I encourage everyone to wear a mask whenever they are around people they don't live with." For that reason the State's guidance is always to wear a mask when out in public. The CDC says that those who are unable to wear a mask because of difficulty breathing during high intensity activities should be sure to keep at least 6 feet away from others. 

In light of all this, it seems to me reasonable that Muleteam recommend that all those who hike with us wear masks on the trail, with an exception for those who have difficulty with physical exertion while masked. Those in the latter category should be asked to be scrupulous about staying six feet away from hikers outside their households.

I welcome comments here on the blog, or by email to ebernstein2001@yahoo.com.

In the meantime, we do need more hikes scheduled. I am grateful to all of those who have already led hikes this season. Our hikes may have to be more local than in the past, we may repeat hikes during the season, but it is still enormously valuable to get outside!

Keep on trekking,

Elizabeth

Perimeter

 WALK THE PERIMETER TRAIL

Join the Muleteam this Saturday for a hike along the winding foothills of the Huachuca Mountains between Carr and Miller Canyons. This is a relatively easy, level trail with vista views of the San Pedro Valley, but it will be about 7 miles roundtrip. Bring water and lunch. Dogs welcome. Back mid-afternoon.

Meet Dec. 19 at 9 a.m. by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain (compliance with City mask policy required), or alternatively at 9:30 at the first parking lot on the left as you drive west on Carr Canyon Road from Highway 92. Free, but we will not be carpooling from the courthouse at this time. For more details contact Anne at 520-432-0307 or areiniger@wyoming.com.

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BACKTRACK -  San Pedro River

On a clear day 13 hikers met to hike up Joe's Canyon from the Coronado National Memorial Visitor Center. Seven went to the top and had a very windy lunch, while others stopped along the way. From the top of the ridge at the end of Joe's Canyon we could see construction taking place on a road to the border from the west. I've posted a picture which shows the construction activity on Shutterfly - if you zoom you can see the cuts they are making in the mountainside. Another picture of the group at the edge of the Montezuma Pass parking lot is posted on Shutterfly. We were waving at Guillermo and José in that photo. - Molly

More photos at muleteam.shutterfly.com

CALENDAR - need to schedule hikes after January 2 . . . 

Dec 26 - Bisbee Cross with Doug

Jan 2  -   Mural Hill with Alice

Jan 9  -   ?

Jan 16  -  ?

......

Keep on trekking,

Elizabeth

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Joe's Canyon

HIKE JOE'S CANYON TRAIL

Join the Muleteam this Saturday to hike from the Coronado Visitor Center through a very scenic valley in the Huachuca Mountains to Coronado Peak for a view of Mexico. This is a continuous uphill trail returning the same way for a total of about 6.5 miles. Bring water and lunch but no dogs. Back mid-afternoon.

Meet Dec. 12 at 9 a.m. by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain (compliance with City mask policy required), or alternatively at the Visitor Center at Coronado National Memorial at 9:45. Free, but we will not be carpooling from the courthouse at this time. For more details contact Molly at 208-720-7518. 

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BACKTRACK -  San Pedro River

Fourteen hikers and three dogs enjoyed an easy, pleasurable hike at the San Pedro Riparian area. The group headed south from the San Pedro House along a dirt road through the fields to a wash that led towards the River. After a detour around two ponds covered with thin ice, and not much birdlife, the hikers bushwhacked through the tall grass to a well-traveled path that meandered north along the river to a picnic spot for lunch. - Carol

More photos at muleteam.shutterfly.com

CALENDAR

Dec 19 - Perimeter Trail with Anne

Dec 26 - Bisbee Cross with Doug

Jan 2  -   Mural Hill with Alice

Jan 9  -   ?

......

Keep on trekking,

Elizabeth

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